Headlight signal



NOV. 5, 1940. P M KNUDSEN @220,820

HEADLIGHT S IGNAL Filed Sept. '7, 1939 VPatented Nov. 5, 1940 y l.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,229,820 HEADLIGHT SIGNAL Peder M. Knudsen, Katonah, N. Y.

Application September 7, 1939, Serial No. 293,857

A 2 claims.

This invention relates to headlights for automobiles or other motor vehicles and relates more particularly to an attachment adapted to be mounted in a headlight of conventional construction for indicating to the driver of an approaching vehicle which headlight is extinguished when the bulb of one headlight is not burning.

All automobiles have two headlights mounted respectively at the right and left` sides of the radiator for illuminating the roadway and also serving as a guide for the driver of an approaching vehicle. If the bulb of one headlight is out it is diiiicult for the driver of the approaching vehicle to determine whether he is approaching a motor cycle or an automobile having only one light in operation and even if he is able to determine that he is approaching an automobile having only one headlight in operation, itis often dimcult to determine which headlight is extinguished. Therefore, head-on collisions are liable to occur and it is one object of the present invention to provide the'headlights of an automobile with an attachment which will cause the headlights, when illuminated to present the appearance of a pair of eyes, one being the right eye and the other the left eye. It will thus be seen that when one headlight is not lighted, the driver of an approaching automobile will only see one eye and can pass safely, as he will know Whether the right or left headlight is extinguished, it being obvious that he will also know that he is approaching an automobile or truck as a motorcycle has but one headlight and would not be equipped with a signal device constituting a representation of an eye.

Another object of the invention is to so form the signaling device that when it is applied to a headlight it may be adjusted to representv either a left eye or a right eye, thus making it unnecessary to provide pairs of signaling devices.

Another object of the invention is to so form the signaling device that when it is applied to a headlight it will be iirmly mounted within the same back of the lens with the portion bearing the representation of an eye offset inwardly so that distortion will not be caused by heat when the bulbs are burning. l

The invention is illustrated in the accompany drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing the headlights of an automobile or other motor vehicle equipped with the signaling devices.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and showing the improved signal mounted within a headlight.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. l, there has been shown arportion of an automobile or other motor vehicle I having the usual front wheels .2 and mud guards 3 upon 5 which are mounted headlights 4 disposed at oppositev sides of the radiator 5. It is, of course, obvious that the headlights need not, be mounted on the mud guards directly at opposite sides of the radiator but it is essential that they be so 10 located that there will distinctly be a right hand headlight and a left hand headlight.

Each headlight has the usual casing 6, the front end of which is closed by a lens I held in place by a removable ring 8'. There has also been pro- 15 vided the usual socket 9 in which a bulb I0 is mounted. When the bulbs of both headlights are burning, they clearly indicate to the driver of an approaching vehicle that he is going to pass an automobile, truck or the like and he can gauge 20 the width of the'vehicle to be. passed by the distance between the headlights. When, however,

lights 4 have been provided with signaling members II each bearing the representation of a human eye, as shown at I2, the pupils I3 being presented inwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, and clearly representing the right and left eyes of a person. Each signal consists of a main sheet I4 of Celluloid or other suitable transparent material and an auxiliary sheet I5 formed of the same type of material. The main sheet I4 is circular and of such diameter that when the rubber bordering strip or binding I6 is applied, it will t snugly into the casing or shell 6 where it is held in close contacting engagement with the rear surface of marginal portions of the lens 'I by clips I'I which are mounted against side portions of the casing 45 in position to engage the binding and rmly hold the signaling device in its proper position in the headlight casing. An opening I8 is formed in the central portion of the main disk or sheet I4, and upon reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that this 50 opening is of appreciable size and tapered to a point at its outer end so that it has the general shape of a human eye. By forming this opening, a large area of the auxiliary sheet I5 is exposed and spots I9 and y20 upon the inner sheet may be 65 -eye and thek spots 20, which are arranged in a cirle, represent'the pupil of the eye. The spots may be yellow or any other color desired, which will show clearly when the headlight is in operation. The sheet I5 is offset rearwardly from the main sheet with its end portions bent forwardly and united to the main sheet, as shown at ZI, y

the upper and lower edges of the sheet I5 being free from the main sheet so that expansionand contraction may take place without distorting the auxiliary sheet or causing buckling of the main sheet.

When the signal is invuse, the two devices are fitted into the headlights after removing the lenses l and the lenses then replaced and secured by their retainer rings 8. In view of the fact that .the opening I8 and the representation of an eyef' formed by the dots I9 and 20 are substantially centrally of the main disk, it is not necessary to select a particular signaling device for use in the right and left hand. headlight.

After inserting the signaling devices, they must be turned to properly dispose the eyes, as shown in Fig. l, and, upon replacing the lenses and their retainer rings, the installation is completed and the signal ready for lise. When the headlights are turned on, light from their bulbs II) passes through the disks or sheets I4 and I5 Without appreciable dimming but the spots I9 and 20 will show very clearly and impart the appearance of a right eye and a left eye when seen by the driver of an approaching vehicle. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing. 'I'he driver of a vehicle approaching an automobile having its headlights equipped with the improved signaling device will ordinarily see the two eyes instead of merely a pair of headlights. If the bulb of one' headlight is extinguished for any reason', only one eye will be displayed'and since the right eye and the left eye are readily distinguishable from each other, it can be easily determined which headlight is in operation. Therefore, the driver looking at the oncoming'vehicle 6 can accurately determine which headlight he is looking at and make proper calculation as to the amount of space he has for passing the oncoming vehicle. It will thus be seen that collisions caused by a mistake as to which headlight is not 10 in operation will be avoided.I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A signal light of the character descilbedVA comprising in combination, a casing, a lens for 1| said casing, a light bulb in the casing, a disk of plastic light penetratable material such as Celluloid fitting in the casing back of saidlens, said disk being formed with an opening extending transversely thereof, a strip of plastic light penetatable material such as Celluloid of greater dimensions thanthe opening spaced rearwardly from said disk and extending across the opening with its upper and lower edges free and its end portions' directed forwardly and secured to the disk at opposite sides of the opening, and indicia upon said strip and exposed through the opening of the disk and prominently displayed by light from the bulb when the signal is in operation.

2. A signal indicia member comprising a disk of plastic light penetratable material such as Celluloid formed with an opening of appreciable size extending transversely thereof, a strip of plastic light penetratable material such as Celluloid of greater dimensions than the opening spaced rearwardly from the disk and extending across the opening in blocking relation thereto with its end portions bent forwardly and secured against the rear face of the disk and its remaining edges free from the disk, and indicia upon said strip located back of the opening and exposed therethrough.

FEDER M. KNUDsEN. 

